A background document on policy recommendations for addressing pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment has been prepared to support European Commission in developing a strategy on pharmaceuticals .
The report highlights a number of options for consideration in the strategy. There are a number of proposals for how pharmaceuticals could be managed better in relation to water management; from the development of concrete guidelines to managing wastewater at hospitals; monitoring effluent quality at potential “hot spot” areas like wastewater treatment plants; developing financing for advanced treatment technologies at both EU and member state level; developing minimum quality standards for water used for irrigation and manure on fields, and finally; to include pharmaceuticals as substances listed on the watch lists of the Priority Substances Directive.
All options have been put forth to the Commission for consideration for the forthcoming Strategic Approach to Pharmaceuticals in the Environment.
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